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Rooted
White willow (Salix alba)
White willow (Salix alba)

Salicaceae · bark

White willow

Salix alba

Human clinical trialsUse with caution

Bark mapped to human low-back-pain trials of salicin-standardized extracts. Pharmacology overlaps the salicylate class.

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Safety first

Bark contains salicin, which is metabolized toward salicylic acid. Treat it with aspirin-class cautions: bleeding, Reye-type concern in children with viral illness, NSAID/aspirin allergy, and third-trimester pregnancy. It is not 'herbal aspirin-free'.

Tradition vs trials

Traditional record. European fever-and-pain bark long predates synthetic aspirin. Commission E and ESCOP record it for fever, headache, and rheumatic pain.

Trial literature. Specified salicin extracts have human data for low-back pain. Headache/fever evidence is more traditional than modern RCT.

Practical ranges

Educational ranges — not a prescription. Culinary use is not an extract.

  • salicin (adults)

    European trial/monograph products often provide about 120–240 mg salicin daily

    ESCOP / EMA HMPC — Educational range only — not a prescription. A licensed clinician individualizes product, dose, and duration.

Pregnancy, nursing, children

  • Pregnancy. Avoid, especially in the third trimester (same class concern as other salicylates).
  • Nursing. Avoid medicinal salicylate barks unless a clinician directs otherwise.
  • Children. Do not use in children or teenagers with viral illness (Reye-type caution). Not a pediatric fever tea.

Contraindications

  • aspirin/NSAID allergy or asthma triad
  • active peptic ulcer or bleeding
  • children with viral illness
  • third-trimester pregnancy

Key interactions

  • anticoagulants / antiplatelets / NSAIDs · caution

    Additive bleeding and gastric-irritation risk.

  • methotrexate / other salicylate-interacting drugs · caution

    Class caution.

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Used in these diagnoses